Temperature and Fishing PeakingAlan Gurney | First Published: September 2009

What an awesome month we had in September.

The barramundi turned up in big numbers and they were full of energy, fighting all the way to the net. Some big fish were caught and released with the lucky anglers able to photograph their first barramundi that was over a metre. The blue salmon did not turn up in big numbers this year and it could be the silly bag limit of 20 fish per person may have finally started to shorten their numbers. The boys from Toyota came out on a Lance Butler charter and nailed some trophy fish using Lance’s own lures.

The north westerlies in the afternoon have made any trip up the coast very rough coming home and the strong easterlies in the morning have made it hard to fish the rubble patches. Paul Donald from KERRY-D managed to land some nice Spanish mackerel and a pro fisherman even caught a sailfish in a net. The barramundi are now out of season as the closure started on Friday September 25.

The water has warmed up and we can look forward to some nice grunter to turn up on the northern side of the sand island for those willing to venture out. It is also the time for the black jew to appear as we head towards November. An entertaining way to catch black jew is with Berkley Gulp soft plastics. You need to work the deep holes on the top and bottom of the tides when there is little movement to get the most action out of the plastics. The take is usually very soft and you need to be patient as they sometimes hold the bait in their mouths before swallowing. Once hooked, the jew put on a good show and it is an awesome feeling to land one in this style.

KARUMBA KATCH SEFOOD FESTIVAL

This event is on from October 10-11 and is shaping up as a glamour time to be in Karumba. There will be entertainment, fresh seafood, lucky draws and lots of things for both parents and kids to enjoy. Contact Lyn at the End of The Road for further details on 07 4745 9599.

Karumba has won the award for Queensland’s Friendliest Town and special thanks goes to the Carpentaria Shire Council, The End of the Road Motel, Croc and Crab Tours, Post Office, Ashes and all the other people that make our town awesome.

SWEERS ISLAND

Well, what a month it’s been on Sweers – everything from the humble sweetlip to Spanish mackerel. They ran late again this year, but were closely followed by a steady catch of reddies, coral trout and nice big parrot. And remember that the Gulf parrot is the tasty venus tuskfish, much better eating that its southern cousin.

The slack September winds enabled fishos to get right out to all the reefs, and they had their choice of shallow reef fishing for coral trout, sweetlip, stripey and cod, or trolling the deeper reef edges for reddies and late mackerel, while the Land Lubbers did equally well catching shark, queenies and GT right off the beach!

The Morning Glory roll clouds were early this year too, and though locals will not claim they mean it is going to be an early Wet, they do seem to bring on the barra. Long time regular, Joy Sheldrick, from Moulamein, swears by them – and used to duck out of the kitchen after brekkie each morning, returning with a barra!

Just a few weeks to go before the big northerlies start to dominate, so get out there and try your luck dangling a line in the Jew Hole, or drifting round the northern reefs for the big reds.

The Resort’s charter boat Salamon has been busy lately running charters around the island and bringing home some very happy customers with nice mixed catches. Skipper Mick has the experience of knowing the reefs and putting fishos on the spot. For more info check out www.sweers.com.au .

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Not a bad way to spend your 40th birthday. Now about that net…

Greg Maguire first mackerel was a sensational 16.5kg and he is well and truly hooked on their sportfishing abilities and their flavour.

Grunter are a favourite of visitors and locals. Just take what you need though as many visitors really give the grunter a hard time.

Glen Gurney with his first black jew that he said was awesome to tangle with.